Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has taken a swipe at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson by suggesting that other people have begun to notice that the Scotsman rarely gets punished for speaking poorly about match officials.

The Spaniard, who had a public spat with the Red Devils coach four years ago while he was the boss of Liverpool, has suggested that it is "obvious" that Ferguson regularly escapes action from the Football Association.

"I always try to concentrate on my job but at that time with Ferguson I was defending my club," Benitez told The Times. "I could see what was happening from my point of view, and maybe now a lot of people are seeing the same things. I will not talk too much about that because it's obvious."

The former Inter Milan coach has admitted that he would accept the permanent managerial role at Stamford Bridge.